All4Nutra
For formulators seeking performance, consistency and efficiency, not all lactose is created equal
Kerry Digest Fast Facts:
- Direct compression is gaining traction for its efficiency — fewer steps, lower costs and ideal for moisture- or heat-sensitive APIs.
- Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT delivers strong tablets at lower compression forces with excellent flow, solubility and consistency.
- Backed by Kerry’s global network and nearly 100 years of experience, you get reliable supply, cGMP quality and responsive technical support.
Kerry Digest Full Scoop:
For decades, wet granulation was the gold standard in tablet manufacturing. It was reliable, familiar and — for many — the default. But times have changed. Speed to market, leaner processes, and the rise of moisture-sensitive APIs have pushed formulators to rethink their approach. Direct compression, once seen as niche or limited, is now firmly in the spotlight. And with it comes a new demand: excipients that can keep up.
Lactose has long held a dominant position in oral solid dose formulation — and for good reason. Used in pharmaceutical manufacturing for more than 50 years, it is found in an estimated 60–70% of oral medicines. Its widespread use is underpinned by key advantages: it is cost-effective, chemically inert, highly consistent from batch to batch, and available in multiple grades tailored to different process requirements. Whether in monohydrate, anhydrous or amorphous form, lactose continues to offer the versatility and reliability that formulators need.
This is where Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT steps in — not as just another lactose product, but as a purpose-built solution for the realities of modern pharma manufacturing. Engineered specifically for direct compression, it delivers the performance that today’s formulators demand without compromising on the trusted qualities that have made lactose a mainstay of the industry.
Download our Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT product brochure:
Lactose Technical manual
Direct Tableting vs. Granulation
Tablet manufacturing has long relied on wet granulation, dry granulation and direct compression as its foundational processes. Granulation, whether wet or dry, enhances powder properties before compression — but each comes with trade-offs. Wet granulation involves multiple steps, long processing times, and is incompatible with moisture- and heat-sensitive actives. Dry granulation avoids moisture but can reduce re-workability and lead to higher material loss.
Direct compression simplifies the process. By blending powders and compressing them directly into tablets, it eliminates many steps — reducing costs, processing time and equipment demands. It’s ideally suited for APIs that are sensitive to heat or moisture and formulations that require consistent flow and minimal segregation. As a result, direct compression is rapidly becoming the preferred tableting method across the pharmaceutical industry.
But this simplicity places greater demands on excipients. Because they often make up the bulk of the tablet, excipients used in direct compression must offer excellent flowability, compressibility, low moisture sensitivity and minimal impact on tablet press operation. A mismatch in excipient properties can lead to poor tablet uniformity, weak tablet strength or accelerated equipment wear.
Engineered specifically for direct compression, Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT delivers the performance that today’s formulators demand without compromising on the trusted qualities that have made lactose a mainstay of the industry.
Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT: Optimised for Performance
Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT is engineered to meet the performance needs of direct compression without the compromises seen in other lactose-based excipients. Designed from the outset to support high-speed tableting, it combines optimal particle size distribution with a controlled beta-lactose content for improved compressibility, solubility and batch-to-batch consistency.
Its physical and chemical stability, high purity and non-hygroscopic profile make it ideal for formulations requiring moisture control and reliable shelf life. Compared to other lactose grades — including traditional anhydrous lactose and spray-dried monohydrate — Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT consistently forms harder tablets at lower compression forces, supporting reduced manufacturing costs and less equipment wear.
It also provides tighter control over tablet weight and reduces ejection force during compression, enhancing tablet quality and production efficiency. In direct comparisons using acetaminophen (APAP) at varying loads, Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT was the only excipient that produced acceptable tablets at a 30% API level — where other lactose grades failed due to capping at just 20%.
Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT consistently forms harder tablets at lower compression forces, supporting reduced manufacturing costs and less equipment wear.
Backed by Quality, Delivered with Confidence
Kerry’s Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT is manufactured in full compliance with cGMP and meets all major pharmacopeial standards. But more than that, it’s supported by nearly 100 years of experience in lactose manufacturing, global distribution capabilities, and a technical support team dedicated to helping formulators succeed.
Whether you’re aiming to streamline production, develop moisture-sensitive formulations, or accelerate scale-up, Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT is ready to meet the challenge — with the performance you need and the reliability you expect.
Read more here
Source: Kerry, website How Sheffield™ Anhydrous DT Delivers for Pharma Tablet Manufacturers | Kerry
